Supply of pressure-sensitive reinforcements for paper and the like



Sept. 25, 1956 MP s. PERRI I 2,764,501

SUPPLY oF PRESSURE-SENSITIVE REINPORCEMENTS PoR PAPER AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 18, 1953 INVENTOR BY y 7 L v v ATTORNEYS Sept. 25. 1956 M. s. FERRI 2,764,501

SUPPLY OF' PRESSURE-SENSITIVE REINFORCEMENTS FOR PAPER AND THE LIKE Filed June 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .IN VENTOR ATTORNEYS nited States Patent SUPPLY OF PRESSURE-SENSITIVE REINFORCE- MENTS FOR PAPER AND THE LIKE Myrtle Sangree Perri, Shelton, Conn.

Application June 18, 1953, Serial No. 362,471

17 Claims. (Cl. 117-25.)

This invention relates to adhesive reinforcements adapted to be applied to loose-leaf sheets or other perforated sheets of paper or the like to strengthen the perforated portions thereof.

At present, small annular gummed cloth reinforcements are used for the purpose of reinforcing loose-leaf or similar perforated sheets. These reinforcements, in the form of small rings, are opaque and usually white, having an adhesive material on one side which is intended to be moistened to enable the reinforcement to be adhered to the paper.

Such paper reinforcements, while in wide spread use, have several drawbacks. For one thing, the moistening of the reinforcement is not always convenient, calling for a moistening device Where large numbers of reinforcements are to be used. Another disadvantage resides in the opacity of the reinforcements, since if there is writing or printed matter on the sheet in the area of the perforation, it may be covered by the reinforcement and made no longer visible. In addition, if insuiiicient moisture is applied to the adhesive, or if the reinforcement is not pressed down firmly and held so for several moments, the adhesive will not securely hold the reinforcement to the paper, rendering the device ineffective.

The above drawbacks and disadvantages of this prior gummed-type reinforcement are obviated by the present invention, by the provision of a novel, transparent, pressure-sensitive tape having preformed perforations, the said tape being severable between the perforations Whereby individual reinforcements are readily obtainable which do not require moistening and which are transparent to enable printed matter on the sheet to be seen even after the reinforcements are applied over said matter.

I have found that sometimes when a pressure-sensitive cellophane tap'e is peeled from a roll it tears inadvertently, due to imperfection of the adhesive, or imperfections in the longitudinal edges of the tape. The tape of this invention, having the spaced perforations and being intended for severance between the perforations, is especially prepared or constructed to resist such inadvertent tearing when it is removed either from a roll or a backing card or other packaging means. In one form of my invention the edges of the tape bounding the perforations are thickened; in another form of the invention the edges bounding the perforations are folded back to provide nonadhesive zones bordering the perforations; in other forms of the invention the adhesive is withheld from the zones bordering the perforations, or rendered ineffective by the application of a suitable powder or non-sticky material. The tape may also have its longitudinal edges strengthened by folding them back on the adhesive surface and may be provided with transverse perforation lines to facilitate severance of the tape at the intended places.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved strip supply of pressure-sensitive adhesive reinforcements, wherein the strip may be readily peeled from its supporting surface and successive portions of the strip removed 'or severed to serve as individual adhesive reinforcements.

Patented Sept. 25, 1956 rice Another object of the invention is to provide an improved, perforated, pressure-sensitive adhesive tape adapted to have successive portions thereof removed to serve as individual adhesive reinforcements, wherein the tape may be readily removed or peeled from its supporting. surface with a minimum likelihood of tearing at the perforations.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved roll of perforated, pressure-sensitive adhesive tape adaptedto have successive portions severed to serve as lindividual adhesive reinforcements, wherein the tape may be readily peeled from the roll and severed therefrom by means of the usual dispenser With a minimum inforcements which is simple, reliable and eifectivein use, and economical to fabricate.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved packaged form ofvstrip supply of pressuresensitive reinforcements, which is simple and convenient to use.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective View of a roll of perforated,

transparent, pressure-sensitive tape made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the roll of tape shown in Fig. 1, carried by a common type of dispenser.,

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a loose-leaf sheet having the improved hole reinforcements of the present invention applied to it.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a lstrip of reinforcements, illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a reinforcement tape or strip, showing another form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a reinforcement tape illustrating another modification of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a reinforcement tape illustrating still another modification of the inven.

tion.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a reinforcement tape or strip illustrating yet another modification of the invention.

Figs. l0, ll and l2 are fragmentary plan views of reinforcement tapes illustrating respectively still further modifications of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a at package having individual strips or tapes made in accordance with the invention.

The improved pressure-sensitive reinforcement tape of the present invention shown in Figs. l and 2 comprises a roll 20 of transparent, readily torn, plastic tape 21 (as for example cellophane) having a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating 22 on one side, said tape being provided with perforations 23 spaced uniformly along its length and Y preferably centralized between the longitudinal edges 24,

and being readily transversely severed between the perforations to provide individual pressure-sensitive reinforcements.

In accordance with my invention the tape 21 is especially formed or prepared to prevent it from tearing inadvertently at the perforations23 whenit is being dispensed or peeled from the roll 20. Usually, in the dispensing of the tape'when the roll '20 is supplied in 'the usual dispenser 25, Fig. 2, a portion of the tape 21 is always availabley to the grasp, the exposed endof the tape being, adhered to a cutting or tearingedge 26. It sometimes happens that when the ordinary, pressure-sensitive tape on such a dispenser is grasped and unrolledit will inadvertently tear, due to imperfections or nicks in its longitudinal edges, or imperfections of the adhesive. With the present invention I process the tape 21 to greatly minimize if not completely eliminate the likelihood of the tape tearing,- especially at the perforations 23.

This is accomplished as follows: In Figs. 5 and 6 I show a transparent, pressure-sensitive cellophane tape 21a having perforations 23a, wherein the edge portions 27 of the tape bordering the perforations are thickened, thereby to strengthen the tape around the perforations. The thickened zone 27 is shown as being devoid of adhesive in Fig. 5, and this further reduces the likelihood of the tape tearing at the perforations, since the edges of the perforations will not adhere to the backing or supporting surface, whether this be the roll of tape or a at card or any other packaging arrangement.

In Fig. 13 a number of tapes or strips 2lb are shown, and also a strip 21C, mounted on a backing card 28. The card 28 may be of any suitable material such as plastic, or paper with a plastic or metalized facing. The strips 2lb and 21C may be formed with thickened edges around their perforations as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and the likelihood of such strips tearing at the perforations is greatly minimized if not completely eliminated.

The thickened zones 27 of the strip 21a may be formed by means of a heated tool which enlarges a previously formed perforation which was die-cut in the tape. Or the thickened zone may be formed by the local application of heat to the edges of a die-cut perforation, to cause the edges to recede and thicken, or by any other suitable means.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Fig. 7, wherein a tape 21d has non-adhesive zones 29 bounding its openings 23d. The non-adhesive zones 29 may be formed by applying and adhering a powdered or other non-sticky material to the tape, to render ineffective the adhesive in the zone 29.

Another modified form of the invention is shown in Fig. 8, wherein a tape 21e has folded-back edges 30 bounding its perforations 23e. The folded-back edges 30 provide a lnon-adhesive zone around the perforations 23e, and by preventing the tape at said zone from sticking to the supporting surface, minimize the likelihood of the tape tearing inadvertently'when itis removed for use.

In Fig. 9 a tape 21f has a non-adhesive zone 31 formed by withholding adhesive from said zone. When the tape 21f is removed from the backing surface, the zone 21 will not adhere to said surface and accordingly the likelihood of tearing of the tape is minimized.

By this invention not only do I provide non-adhesive zonesbounding the perforations of the tape, but also nonadhesive zones in other locations as shown in Figs. l0, 'll and l2. By such organization I eliminate undesired creeping of the adhesive and sticking -of the reinforcement to any sheets which might overlie the reinforcement. This trouble is often encountered when pages of a book are mended with the usual transparent cellophane tape. After a short period in use, the adhesive of the tape along the marginal edges adheres to overlying pages or sheets, and causes inconvenience and sometimes tearing of adjacent sheets.

Referring to Fig. l() the tape 21g has an annular nonadhesive zone 32 bounding the perforation 23g, and has longitudinally extending non-adhesive zones 33 at the longitudinal edges 34 of the tape, and transversely extending zones 35 on opposite sides of the perforation 23g. When the tape 21g is severed along the centers of the transverse non-adhesive zones 35 the reinforcement obtained thereby has marginal portionsA all Aof which .are

devoid of adhesive, and accordingly when the reinforcement isapplied to a sheet of paper it will not adhere to other sheets which might overlie the reinforced sheet. For instance, if the reinforced sheet is a loose-leaf page 36 of a book, Fig. 3, having reinforcements 37 made from the tape 21g shown in Fig. l0, the reinforcements will not adhere to the next loose-leaf sheet which overlies the sheet 36.

In Fig. ll the reinforcement tape 21h has folded-in longitudinal edges 38 and transverse perforation lines 39. The folded-in edges 38 prevent inadvertent tearing `of the tape when it is unrolled, such as is at present caused by nicks orimperfect adhesive, and the yperforation lines 39 facilitate severence of the tape on opposite sides of the perforation 23h thereof; the resultant reinforcement has two opposite edges which are devoid of adhesive, as well as the zone surrounding the opening 23h..

In Fig. l2 the tape 21j has powdered zones 40, 41 and 42 which render the adhesive ineffective, and this tape has the some advantages as the tape 21g shown in Fig. l0, insofar as there is prevented inadvertent tearing at the perforation and sticking of the reinforcement to an overlying sheet.

In Figs. 4 and l13 a tape 21C is shown having notches 43 in its opposite longitudinal edges, and transverse perforation lines 44 connected with the notches, to facilitate severance of the tape between the perforations 23C.

By the above organizations I have provided improved, transparent, cellophane pressure-sensitive tapes each constituting a supply of individual reinforcements for application to loose-leaf sheets and the like to strengthen the perforated portions of said sheets. The tapes of this invention are arranged to minimize the likelihood of tearing, especially. at the perforations thereof when the tapes are removed from their backing or supporting surfaces regardless of whether such surfaces are on a roll or card or other packaging device. The individual reinforcements obtained from the tapes may be easily and quickly applied, and the tapes readily severed to produce the reinforcements. Where the reinforcements are intended for use with thin sheets, as of tissue or onionskin paper or the like,the prevention of sticking of the reinforcements to an overlying sheet, as provided by the invention, is of considerable advantage. Where data is `carried on the portions of the sheets which require reinforcement, such data may be readily seen through the reinforcements by virtue of the transparent quality of the tapes.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of `the improvements may he used without others.

I claim:

l. A supply of adhesive reinforcements adapted to be applied to perforated loose-leaf sheets of paper for use in a ring binder to strengthen the perforated portions of the paper, comprising a transparent, readily-torn, tape of plastic material having a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating on one side, said tape having substantially circular perforations, of a size to loosely receive but closely coniine binder rings, spaced along its length at distances approximately equal tcthe width of the tape, and being severable along transverse lines between said perforations whereby successive predetermined perforated portions of the tape `may be removed to serve as individual adhesive reinforcements, said tape also having narrow, ring-shaped zones of uniform width bordering the edges of the perforations thereof, said zones being spaced from the side edges of the tape and from each other, and being provided with non-adhesive surfaces to prevent sticking of the tape insaid zones, thereby to minimize the likelihood of tearing of the tape at the perforations when the tape .is peeled from a supporting surface for use.

2. The invention as dened in claim l in which the said zones have a facing of non-sticky material to render ineffective the adhesive on the zones.

3. The invention as defined in claim l in which the said zones have a powder coating to render ineffective the adhesive on the zones.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the zones provided with the non-adhesive surfaces comprise folded-back edges of the tape.

5. The invention as defined .in claim 1 in which the tape is devoid of adhesive at the said zones bordering the perforations.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the tape has notches along at least one of its opposite 1ongi tudinal edges, disposed intermediate the perforations to facilitate severance of the tape.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which there are transverse perforation lines intermediate the said perforations of the tape, to facilitate severance of the tape.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the tape has zones extending along its opposite longitudinal edges, provided with non-adhesive surfaces.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 in which there are zones provided with non-adhesive surfaces extending transversely across the tape between the perforations thereof.

10. The invention as .defined in claim 9 in which the said zones have deposits of powder adhered to the adhesive to render the latter ineffective.

11. The invention as defined in claim 9 in which the tape is devoid of adhesive along the said Zones, to provide the said non-adhesive surfaces.

12. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which there are zones provided with nuo-adhesive surfaces extending transversely across the tape between the perforations thereof.

13. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the longitudinal edges of the tape are folded in against the adhesive side to provide zones having non-adhesive surfaces extending along opposite edges of the tape.

14. The invention as Idefined in claim 13 in which the tape is provided with transverse perforation lines disposed betwen the said perforations to facilitate severance of the tape.

15. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the tape is coiled in the form of a roll.

16. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the opposite longitudinal edges of the tape are folded back against the adhesive to provide longitudinally extending zones along the edges of the tape with non-adhesive surfaces, and in which the tape has transverse perforation lines disposed between the said perforations to facilitate severance of the tape.

17. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the perforations in diameter are approximately half the width of the tape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,843,771 Kline Feb. 2, 1932 1,869,385 Maish Aug. 2, 1932 2,049,030 Strauss July 28, 1936 2,086,126 Gilchrist July 6, 1937 2,089,469 Dix Aug. 10, 1937 2,095,437 Fox Oct. 12, 1937 2,400,995 Humphner May 28, 1946 2,500,549 Ketay et al Mar. 4, 1950 2,565,509 Marcin Aug, 28, 1951 2,636,297 Johnson Apr. 28, 1953 2,667,948 Tilden Feb. 2, 1954 

1. A SUPPLY OF ADHESIVE REINFORCEMENTS ADAPTED TO BE APPLIED TO PERFORATED LOOSE-LEAF SHEETS OF PAPER FOR USE IN A RING BINDER TO STRENGTHEN THE PERFORATED PORTIONS OF THE PAPER, COMPRISING A TRANSPARENT, READILY-TORN, TAPE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING A PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE COATING ON ONE SIDE, SAID TAPE HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR PERFORATIONS, OF A SIZE TO LOOSELY RECEIVE BUT CLOSELY CONFINE BINDER RINGS, SPACED ALONG ITS LENGTH AT DISTANCES APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF THE TAPE, AND BEING SEVERABLE ALONG TRANSVERSE LINES BETWEEN SAID PERFORATIONS WHEREBY SUCCESSIVE PREDETERMINED PERFORATED PORTIONS OF THE TAPE MAY BE REMOVED TO SERVE AS INDIVIDUAL ADHESIVE REINFORCEMENTS, SAID TAPE ALSO HAVING NARROW, RING-SHAPED ZONES OF UNIFORM WIDTH BORDERING THE EDGES OF THE PERFORATIONS THEREOF, SAID ZONES BEING SPACED FROM THE SIDE EDGES OF THE TAPE AND FROM EACH OTHER, AND BEING PROVIDED WITH NON-ADHESIVE SURFACES TO PREVENT STICKING OF THE TAPE IN SAID ZONES, THEREBY TO MINIMIZE THE LIKELIHOOD OF TEARING OF THE TAPE AT THE PERFORATIONS WHEN THE TAPE IS PEELED FROM A SUPPORTING SURFACE FOR USE.
 7. THE INVENTION AS DEFINED IN CLAIM 1 IN WHICH THERE ARE TRANSVERSE PERFORATION LINES INTERMEDIATE THE SAID PERFORATIONS OF THE TAPE, TO FACILITATE SEVERANCE OF THE TAPE.
 8. THE INVENTION AS DEFINED IN CLAIM 1 IN WHICH THE TAPE HAS ZONES EXTENDING ALONG ITS OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL EDGES, PROVIDED WITH NON-ADHESIVE SURFACES. 